Typographical machine.



J. R. ROGERS.

TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I9, 1915. 1,137,905. Patented May 4, 1915.

I m |I4 l I F I n v JOHN R. ROGERS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO MERGENTI-IALER LIND- TYPE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINE.

Application filed February 19, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN R. Roenns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Typographical Ma chines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to typographical machines, such as linotype machines of the general organization represented in Letters Patent of the United States No. 436,532, to O. Mergenthaler, wherein circulating matrices are released from a magazine in the order in which their characters are to appear in print and then assembled in line, the composed line transferred to the face of a mold, the mold filled with molten metal to form a slug or linotype against the matrices which produce the type characters thereon, and the matrices thereafter elevated and returned through distributing mechanism to the magazine from which they started.

More particularly, it relates to that class of machines in which are employed type or matrices provided with two or more superposed characters, and devices by which the vertical position of the type or matrices in the composed line may be varied, so that each will present one or another of its characters in operative position, as demanded.

In such machines, when the type or matrices are thus assembled at different levels, they are presented in this condition to the mold, and subsequently brought to a common level preparatory to distribution. The leveling of the type or matrices has heretofore been effected in a variety of ways, one method'being shown and described in my Reissue Letters Patent No. 14,889, wherein the first elevator, which presents the composed line to the mold, is provided with a movable blade or ledge to support the matrices at the upper level, and which blade is retracted automatically just before the line is transferred therefrom, in order to allow the elevated matrices to drop to the lower level. Another method is shown anddescribed in my Letters Patent No. 1,071,582,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Seria1 No. 9,267.

elevator, and push them down to the lower level. My present invention is concerned chiefly with this latter method, and is intended to cure certain objections which exist therein. It has been found that in the use of an inclined blade, the matrices are subjected to great strain and excessive wear, which often results in permanent injury thereto. This is especially true of the thinner matrices, which are inherently more frail and delicate.

To overcome these various difficulties and Patented May 4;, 1915. i

the stationary inclined blade, a rotatable roller which engages the matrices successively as they are transferred from the elevator and brings them to a common level. In this way, the matrices are relieved from substantial wear or strain, as the roller rotates freely, thus involving the substitution of rolling contact for the former sliding or grinding engagement with the matrices.

In the accompanying drawing, I have illustrated my invention in preferred form and by way of example and as applied to a linotype machine, but obviously many changes and variations may be made therein and in, its mode of application, which will still be comprised within its spirit. Generally speaking, I desire it to be understood that I do not limit myself to any specific form or embodiment, except in so far as such limitations are specified in the claims.

Referring to the drawing: Figure 1 is a longitudinal section, partly broken away, through the upper transfer channel of a linotype machine, showing the first and second elevators in operative relation thereto; Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a section on the line 83 of Fig. 1. 7 r

In the drawing I have shown only such portions of the machine as are necessary to an understanding of my invention. The other parts may be of any well-known construction, such as presented in the Mergenthaler Patent No. 436,532, above referred to, or as embodied in the commercial linotype machine.

Fig. 1 illustrates the relation of the parts after the first elevator A has come to its uppermost position and brought the upper ends of the spacers Y into contact with the depressor bar B, and the second elevator D has descended to bring its toothed bar D clear.

into the upper transfer channel C, at which time the line of type or matrices X and the spacers Y is moved by the customary transfer slide or pusher E from the first elevator into the channel. During this operation the spacers are separated from the line in the ordinary manner, 1 and the matrices are alined upon the ledge C of the channel and then moved onto the bar D As will be seen more clearly from Figs. 2 and ,3, the first elevator A is provided with two ledges A which engage under the upper ears on the opposite edges of the matrices X standing at the lower level, and with a ledge A which engages beneath the lower ears of the matrices standing at the upper level. It will be understood that the elevated matrices must be brought to the level of the lower ones before they may pass onto the bar D and it is to this problem that my present invention chiefly relates. I

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be noted that the lower ledge A terminates a short distance to the left of the end of the upper ledges A so as to provide a gap through which the matrices at the upper level may pass to the lower level. Directly above the gap is located the leveling roller or member .E, which is journaled upon a stud- E connected to the section B1 of the depressor bar B. The section B is reduced at its lower end so as to provide at one side a recess B to receive the roller E, the main section of the bar B. being also recessed, as at B .(see

Fig. 1) to allow space for the roller. The roller E is arranged to stand within the customary V-shaped notches X of the matrices, and is provided with an annular flange E (see Fig. 2), which'is designed to engage at the bottoms of such notches and thus avoid the contact of the roller with the delicate distributing teeth formed on the opposite sides of the notches.

The operation of the parts will now be As the composed line is transferred from the first elevator A by the pusher E, the elevated matrices will be slid oif their supporting ledge A and brought successively into engagement with the roller E, which rotates and depresses them to the level of the lower matrices, thus'allowing all the matrices to pass at a common level upon the ledge C of the transfer channel 0' and onto the toothed bar D of the second elevator D, which subsequently carries them upward for distribution. As the successive matrices engage the roller, it rotates freely and thus avoids any substantial wear upon or frictional engagement with the matrices.

It will be observed that the roller E, quite apart from its leveling function, serves to insure the correct registration of the mat rices with the second elevator bar I) during their transfer. For instance, if any of the matrices standing at the lower level should become accidentally displaced above their normal position, as sometimes occurs,-

the roller will'urge them downward and effect their proper alinement with the other matrices, so that they may pass with certainty and uniformity upon the toothed bar. The'roller, in this instance, acts upon the matrices with the same ease and gentleness as before, reducing the friction and wear to a minimum.

As p i usly stated, I av shown my invention merely in preferred form and by ay ofexample, a d i is ob i us h many modification and al erat an therein, d i its mode of app icat on, wil s gg st m el e o ose ki d in th art Without departure from its scope.

Having thus described my invention, its construction and mode of operation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent .of the United States, is as follows:

1. Ina typographical machine, the combination of a support provided with means to. sustain the type or matrices at difierent levels therein, a device for transferring them therefrom, and means for bringing the type .or matrices successively to .a common level during their transfer, said means including a rotatable member to. engage the type or matrices. V I

2. In a linotype machine, the combination of the first elevator provided with ledges to sustain the type or matrices at different levels therein, a device for transferring themtherefrom, and means for de A. In a typographical machine comprising type or matrices formed in their upper ends with notches, the combination of a support provided with means to sustain the type or matrices at different levels therein, a device for transferring them therefrom, and means for bringing the type or matrices successively to a common level during their transfer, the said means comprising a rotatable member adapted to engage within the notches of the type or matrices.

5. In a typographical machine comprising type or matrices formed in their upper ends with notches, the combination of a support provided with means to sustain the type or matrices at different levels therein, a device for transferring them therefrom, and means for bringing the type or matrices successively to a common level during their transfer, the said means comprising the roller E formed with the annular flange E adapted to engage at the bottoms of the notches of the type or matrices, for the purpose described.

6. In a typographical machine, the combination of a support provided with means to sustain the type or matrices therein, a device for transferring them therefrom, and means to insure the common alinement of the type or matrices during their transfer, the said means including a rotatable member arranged to engage the type or matrices successively during their transfer.

7. In a linotype machine, the combination of the first elevator provided with means to sustain the type or matrices therein, the second elevator having a toothed bar, a device for transferring the type or type or matrices with. said bar, the said means including a rotatable member to engage the type or matrices successively during their transfer.

8. In a typographical machine comprising type or matrices formed in their upper ends with notches, the combination of the first elevator provided with means to sustain type or matrices therein, the device for transferring them therefrom, and the de pressor bar B provided with the roller E arranged to engage in the notches of the type or matrices and insure their common alinement during transfer.

In testimony whereof, I have afiixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN R. ROGERS.

Witnesses:

ALFRED W. F. GUEST, DAVID S. KENNEDY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Yatents, Washington, D. G. 

